Youth prioritize emotional well-being at work

Residing in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh District, 26-year old Dong had held the position for over two years, the longest he had stayed at any job. For him, the key to job satisfaction was a happy work environment with friendly colleagues and understanding superiors. Salary was only 50% of the decision.

When he took the job, Dung had found several of his colleagues to be like-minded individuals with shared interests. He believed he had found a place to stay long-term.

However, three months ago, a team member suddenly resigned due to conflicts with higher-ups, leaving Dong feeling emotionally unsupported. This prompted him to submit his own resignation, despite objections from his family. Additionally, five employees under his management also quit after their allies left.

“I need to be happy and comfortable – and bond with colleagues – to work effectively,” said Dong. “Without these, it is time to switch jobs. It is a chance to try something new.”

Dong during a trip to Northwest Vietnam while in search of new employment in 2024. Photo courtesy of Dong

Like Dung, many young Vietnamese professionals are quitting stable jobs, seeking emotional fulfillment and supportive work environments.

“Today’s youth are pursuing carefree lifestyles, prioritizing the present and living only for the moment,” observed Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Vice Principal of Hanoi’s University of Education – Vietnam National University.

“Gen Z (those born from 1997 onwards) often live by following their emotions, not thinking much about the future,” he added.

Nam attributed this lifestyle to the overload of information and knowledge in the digital and AI era, which leaves young people feeling disoriented. They also harbor doubts about achieving their dreams – despite their efforts – and they question the expectations placed on them.

Additionally, some young individuals overestimate their abilities while lacking practical experience, making it hard for them to recover from failures, Nam said. He posited that “they seek workplaces with easygoing bosses, lovely colleagues, agreeable clients, and comfortable conditions, rather than high salaries,” adding that they are at the same time reluctant to adapt to different environments.

Thao Ngan, 25, in Hanoi, surprised her family by seeking remote work to avoid unnecessary conflicts with colleagues and superiors.

Unlike many freelancers who strive to augment their income by taking on additional projects, Ngan works just enough to earn VND7 million per month, a sum that barely covers her living expenses. However, she feels content with her relaxed, overtime-free lifestyle.

Outside of her eight-hour workday, Ngan spends her evenings practicing yoga and planning what she calls “healing” trips to nearby destinations on weekends. Occasionally, she takes longer trips with friends, borrowing money if necessary.

At 25, she owns no assets and has no plans to save for a house or car, preferring to enjoy life as it comes. She believes that constantly worrying about the future leads to exhaustion and low spirits.

Ngan during a coffee meeting with friends in Hanoi in May 2024. Photo courtesy of Ngan

Minh Hoa, 27, however, has different experiences. As a production team leader for animated films with 20 Gen Z employees in the capital’s Thanh Xuan District, she rejected the notion that young people’s decisions were impulsive and irrational. She said she saw their job changes and relationship choices as reasoned and purposeful.

According to Hoa, most of her staff practice job-hopping because they seek new challenges, find their old job unsuitable, or feel they are not learning enough from their superiors. They are unafraid of debating their managers to defend their views. They are also intelligent, quick to adapt, trend-savvy, bold communicators, and willing to commit fully when they find the job they like.

“They can be wild horses, but when properly guided, they are no less capable than previous generations,” said Hoa. “Each generation has its perspective. We shouldn’t impose any single standard.”

She noted that most of her team members had stayed with their current jobs for two to three years because they had clear goals and understood what they wanted.

Cautions

Nguyen Viet Chung, a lecturer at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, acknowledged that emotionally driven individuals often excel at connecting with others and alleviating immediate stress. However, he warned that emotional decision-making could be detrimental long-term. If people let personal feelings of love or hate towards colleagues rule, and they fail to focus on their tasks, they could fall into negativity and hinder their growth.

For Dong, quitting without a plan left him unemployed for a long period. He had to rely on his parents for support. His former colleagues who pledged to stay together eventually scattered, taking lower-paying jobs.

“I probably should have stayed calm and discussed things with my colleagues and superiors to find common ground instead of acting impulsively and thinking I was always right,” Dong reflected.

Ngan is now facing financial difficulties after deciding to flee or “escape” her old job for what she had hoped would be “greener pastures.”

Having no emergency funds, she often has to borrow money from friends for urgent needs, such as hospital visits. Despite this, she is so accustomed to a leisurely lifestyle that she continues to live frugally on her seven-million-dong monthly income, rather than enhancing it, to avoid additional stress.

To avoid being led solely by emotions, which may affect their future, Nam advised both Gen Z employees and their employers to change.

For management, it is essential to understand employees’ desires and create an environment where workers feel respected, challenged, and given opportunities for growth. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z lacks perseverance, and thus needs training to overcome difficulties. They also do not prioritize hierarchy, so leaders should lead by example, or “lead from the back,” and mentor, rather than command.

As Gen Z increasingly becomes the primary workforce, employers must accept that these workers may not stick to one job. But they will constantly seek new experiences, so changing things up in the workplace may help retain them.

For their part, Gen Z-ers need to develop creative thinking, critical reasoning, self-discipline, and the ability to collaborate with teammates to enhance work efficiency, experts said.

Chung suggested that those with intense emotions and uncontrollable behavior might be experiencing anxiety or depression. Such cases should seek treatment at reputable psychological centers, or join certified emotional intelligence (EQ) training classes to practice balance and control.

Thuy Linh, from Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, who has had 10 brief relationships due to her fickle nature, recently spent several million dongs on a short course in EQ balance. Linh said she then learned to listen and handle issues calmly. She said she’d been taught how to pay attention and grasp the preferences and personalities of others to create a good impression.

“Just competence is not enough,” Linh said. “To succeed and enjoy work, I need to balance my emotions and respect others’ thoughts.”